ABSTRACT Objetive: Investigation the application of niosome as a nanocarrier for sage (Salvia officinalis L.) extract by spectroscopy and chemometrics. Material and Method: In this study,niosome nanoparticles containing cholesterol and without cholesterol were prepared by thin film hydration method. Ethanol extract of sage was extracted by microwave and loaded inside the niosome nanoparticles. The size of the nanoparticles was determined by field imaging scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The zeta potential of the niosomes was determined by Dynamic light scattering (DLS). to investigate the type of interactions between surfactants and cholesterol used in the niosome structure, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) was used. Drug release was investigated for 5 consecutive days in phosphate buffer salin (PBS) 0/01 M with pH=7.4 at T=370C. Results:The zeta potential of the niosomes with cholesterol and without cholesterol was -24/1&-15/6 mv . The loading capacity of the drug in the concentration range (1-3% w / w of niosum) for both types of niosome was between 61% and 93%. Conclusion: This results show that the release rate of niosme with cholesterol is significantly more regular and lower than of niosome without cholesterol. In general, it can be concluded that niosome can be a suitable nano-carrier for delivery of hydrophilic extract of the sage.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Investigar la aplicación del niosoma como nanoportador de extracto de salvia (Salvia officinalis L.) mediante espectroscopia y quimiometría. Material y método: En este estudio, se prepararon nanopartículas de niosoma que contienen colesterol y sin colesterol mediante el método de hidratación de película fina. El extracto etanólico de salvia se extrajo mediante microondas y se cargó dentro de las nanopartículas de niosoma. El tamaño de las nanopartículas se determinó mediante microscopía electrónica de barrido de imágenes de campo (FE-SEM). El potencial zeta de los niosomas se determinó mediante dispersión dinámica de luz (DLS). Para investigar el tipo de interacciones entre los tensioactivos y el colesterol utilizados en la estructura del niosoma, se utilizó la espectroscopia infrarroja por transformada de Fourier (FT-IR). Se investigó la liberación de fármaco durante 5 días consecutivos en tampón fosfato salina (PBS) 0/01 M con pH = 7,4 a T = 37ºC. Resultados: El potencial zeta de los niosomas con colesterol y sin colesterol fue de -24 / 1 y -15 / 6 mv. La capacidad de carga del fármaco en el rango de concentración (1-3% p / p de niosum) para ambos tipos de niosoma estuvo entre 61% y 93%. Conclusión: Estos resultados muestran que la tasa de liberación de niosma con colesterol es significativamente más regular y más baja que la de niosoma sin colesterol. En general, se puede concluir que el niosoma puede ser un nanoportador adecuado para el suministro de extracto hidrófilo de la salvia.

Background: Newcastle disease is an important avian infectious disease that brings about vast economic damage for poultry industry. Transgenic plants represent a cost-effective system for the production of therapeutic proteins and are widely used for the production of poultry vaccines. In an attempt to develop a recombinant vaccine, a plant expression binary vector pBI121, containing the genes encoding Hemagglutinin-Neuraminidase (HN) and Fusion (F) epitopes of Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) under the control of CaMV35S promoter and NOS terminator was constructed and introduced into the tobacco ( Nicotiana tabacum) plant by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Results: Putative transgenic plants were screened in a selection medium containing 50 mg/L kanamycin and 30 mg/L meropenem. Integration of the foreign gene in plant genome was confirmed by PCR. Expression of foreign gene was analyzed at transcription level by RT-PCR and at translation level by means of dot blotting and ELISA. All analyses confirmed the expression of recombinant protein. Conclusion: Developments in genetic engineering have led to plant-based systems for recombinant vaccine production. In this research, tobacco plant was used to express F and HN epitopes of NDV. Our results indicate that for the production of recombinant vaccine, it is a novel strategy to use concatenated epitopes without their genetic fusion onto larger scaffold structure such as viral coat protein.

The occipital condyle (OC) is an important area in craniovertebral surgery, but its anatomical features and the procedures concerning the OC have not been studied in detail yet. The aim of this study was to revisit the anatomy of the occipital condyle region and assess variations of the surrounding structures. Observations, on fifty dry skulls (dried specimens, 100 sides) and determined of condyle measurements. The mean length, width and height of occipital condyle were found to be 19.43±3.27 (right), 19.28±3.57 (left), 9.21±1.97 (right) 9.40±1.87 (left), 7.21±1.9 (right) and 7.33±2.74 mm (left), respectively. There were significant differences between right and left occipital condyles. The mean anterior intercondylar distance and posterior intercondylar distance were measured as 15.39±7 and 35.60±8.4 mm, respectively. Variations of occipital condyle shapes were kidney like (34.4%), S-like (25.6), triangular (13.3%) oval (10.0%), ring like (7.8%), eight like (6.7%) and deformed (2.2%) respectively. The condylar fossa presented in 60% of dry skull, 24% in right side and 36% in left side and also the condylar foramen was found in 60% of the specimens studied. There was no relation between the circumference of the head and the length of OC but we found relation between the circumference of the head and the width of OC (0.527) and foramen magnum circumference (0.433). The OC and FM are the main bony structures obstructing the surround of the brainstem. The differences in the size and the shape of occipital condyle have some differences and also similarities among racial subgroups. The posterior condylar vein may act asymmetrically. The correlation of the size of foramen magnum with the width of occipital condyles shows the importance of occipital condyle for lateral movements besides antero-posterior movements.

El cóndilo occipital (CO) es una estructura relevante en la cirugía craneovertebral, pero sus características anatómicas y procedimientos quirúrgicos relativos al CO no se han estudiado detalladamente. El objetivo fue revisar la anatomía de la región del CO y evaluar las variaciones de sus estructuras circundantes. Fueron observados 50 cráneos secos (100 lados) y se determinaron las mediciones del CO. La longitud media según lado fue 19,43±3,27 mm (derecho) y 19,28 ± 3,57 mm (izquierdo), el ancho medio fue 9,21±1,97 mm (derecho) y 9,40±1,87 mm (izquierda) y la altura media fue 7,21±1,9 mm (derecho) y 7,33±2,74 mm (izquierdo). Hubo diferencias significativas entre los CO derechos e izquierdos. La distancia intercondílea anterior y posterior media fue de 15,39±7 mm y 35,60±8,4 mm, respectivamente. La variación de formas del CO fue de riñon (34,4%), de S (25,6%), triangular (13,3%), oval (10,0%), de anillo (7,8%), de ocho (6,7%) y deformada (2,2%). La fosa condilar se observó en el 60% de los casos, 24% en lado derecho y 36% en el izquierdo; también el foramen condilar se encontró en el 60% de los casos. No se encontró relación entre la circunferencia de la cabeza y la longitud del CO, pero encontramos relación entre la circunferencia de la cabeza y el ancho del CO (0,527) y circunferencia del foramen magno (0,433). El CO y foramen magno son las principales estructuras óseas que constribuyen a rodear y proteger el tronco cerebral. Las diferencias en el tamaño y forma del CO tiene algunas diferencias y similitudes entre subgrupos raciales. La vena condilar posterior puede presentarse de manera asimétrica. La correlación del tamaño de foramen magno con el ancho de los CO muestra su relevancia en movimientos laterales y anteroposteriores.

Background : Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a low-grade inflammatory disease characterized by hyperandrogenemia, hirsutism, chronic anovulation and vascular disorder. Interleukin-6 (IL-6), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are triggered by inflammatory stimuli and lead to angiogenesis and pathogenesis of the ovary. Honeybee venom (HBV) contains an array of biologically active components possessing various pharmaceutical properties. This study was designed to assess the possibility of HBV application as an anti-inflammatory therapeutic agent to suppress levels of the main inflammatory mediators IL-6, COX-2 and VEGF. To induce PCOS, 1 mg of estradiol valerate (EV) per 100 g of body weight was subcutaneously (SC) injected into eight-week-old rats. After 60 days, 0.5 mg/kg of HBV was administered Intraperitoneal (IP) for 14 consecutive days, and the results of PCOS treatment were investigated. Rats were then anesthetized with CO2, and the ovaries were surgically removed. Serum IL-6 was detected by the ELISA kit. Immunoexpression of COX-2 and VEGF were examined in three groups: EV-induced PCOS, HBV-treated PCOS and control animals. Results : Thickness of theca layer, number and diameter of cysts and levels of IL-6 significantly decreased in HBV group relative to PCOS group. The immunohistochemical analysis showed an increase in COX-2 and VEGF expression in PCOS group whereas HBV-treated rats presented weak and irregular immunostaining. Conclusions : Our results suggest that the beneficial effect of HBV may be mediated through its inhibitory effect on serum IL-6 level and ovarian COX-2 and VEGF expression.

A method has been developed for simultaneous determination of Fe(III) and Hg(II) by RP-HPLC, utilizing partial least squares technique. Vertex C18, with UV-visible detector was applied in reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography, while 1,4-bis-(4-Pyridil)-2,3-diazo-1,3-butadiene (4-bpdb) was added to the mobile phase as the chelating agent. Several effective parameters e.g. mobile phase make up, buffers, concentration of 4-bpdp and pH salts were investigated in order to optimize the quantification conditions. The optimum condition was achieved at 25°C, 10% methanol containing mobile phase, 30 mmol L¹ acetate buffer, 0.05 mmol L¹ 4-bpdb and pH=4.5. Partial least squares chemometric technique was applied. The root mean square error (RMSE) of independent test set in the optimized model was 0.024 and 0.393 for Fe(III) and Hg(II) respectively.